TV White Spaces Regulatory Framework for Kenya: An Overview and Comparison with Other Regulations in Africa

Abstract

Dynamic spectrum management is gradually becoming a viable approach for use by national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in administering usage of the radiofrequency spectrum. The concept has proven to be efficient in managing secondary access to television white spaces by permitting white space devices, under the control of geolocation databases. Kenya conducted its first white space trial in 2013 under a static model, which demonstrated the opportunity that could be harnessed in using the lower UHF band to provide broadband internet access in underserved areas, with no harmful interference to the digital terrestrial television service. In the subsequent years, the administration of Kenya permitted multiple trials, of various models, to build a case for adoption of dynamic spectrum access techniques in the UHF band and to drive deployments of white space devices. The Communications Authority of Kenya recently published a framework setting out key aspects for access to white spaces including the algorithms to determine coexistence parameters, that was modified off the dynamic spectrum alliance's model rules. This paper presents an overview of the regulatory framework for use of TV white spaces in Kenya and compares it with other frameworks adopted by African countries and other selected countries globally. The paper further gives recommendations on the path to adoption and implementation of the dynamic spectrum management for national regulatory authorities in Africa.